Elfrida still opposed by Dunstan--Ethelred crowned by the archbishop of Canterbury--His malediction at the coronation --Dislike of the Saxons to Ethelred--Dunstan's power on the wane--Insurrection of the Danes--The Danish pirates again ravage England--Courageous reply of the Saxon governor of Essex --Single combat between the Saxon governor, and one of the sea-kings--Cowardly conduct of Ethelred--He pays tribute, and makes peace with the Danes--Alfric the Mercian governor, turns traitor, and joins the Danes with his Saxon ships--The Saxon army again commanded by the Danes, and defeated--Olaf, the Norwegian, and Swein, king of Denmark, invade and take formal possession of England--Ethelred again exhausts his exchequer, to purchase peace--Swein's second invasion of England--Cruel massacre of the Danes by the Saxons--Murder of Gunhilda, the sister of Swein, king of Denmark--Swein prepares to revenge the death of his countrymen--Description of his soldiers --Splendour of his ships--His magical banner described-- His landing in England--Alfric again betrays the Saxons-- Destruction of Norwich--Ethelred once more purchases peace of the Danes---Ælfeg, archbishop of Canterbury, made prisoner by the sea-kings--He refuses to pay a ransom--Is summoned to appear before the sea-kings while they are feasting, and beaten to death by the bones of the oxen the pirates had feasted upon--Ethelred lays an oppressive tax upon the land--He raises a large fleet --Is again betrayed by his commanders--Sixteen counties are given up to the Danes--Ethelred deserted by his subjects-- Escapes to the Isle of Wight, and from thence to Normandy-- Swein, king of Denmark, becomes the monarch of England--Death of Swein--His son Canute claims the crown--Is opposed by Edmund Ironside--Canute's cruelty to the Saxon hostages-- Miserable state of England at this period, as described by a Saxon bishop p. 249 CHAPTER XXXI. EDMUND, SURNAMED IRONSIDE. Courageous character of Edmund Ironside--His gallant defence of London--His prowess at the battle of Scearston--Obstinacy of the combat which is only terminated by the approach of night-- Renewal of the battle in the morning--Narrow escape of Canute, the Dane, from the two-handed sword of Edmund Ironside-- Conduct of the traitor Edric--Retreat of the Danes--Battles fought by Edmund the Saxon--Ulfr, a Danish chief, lost in a wood--Meets with Godwin the cowherd, and is conducted to the Danish camp--Treaty between Canute the Dane and Edmund Ironside --The kingdom divided between the Danes and Saxons--Suspicious circumstances attending the death of Edmund--Despondency of the Saxons p. 254 CHAPTER XXXII. CANUTE THE DANE.